Electric switch.



F. W. SMITH.

ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED APR. 19, 1910.

970,963. Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

UNITED STATES PATENTQFFICE.

FRANK W. SMITH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 SUNDI-I ELECTRIC COMPANY, A

" CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 20, 1 910.

Application filed April 19, 1910. Serial No. 556,367.

- circuit terminal blocks on the panel, and

whereby said lever having become locked in posltion, is' automatically released by a current of predetermined strength on the circuit which it closes.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a side elevation of my improved switch, Fig. 2, a face elevation, and Fig. 3 is a vertical section thereof.

Similar numbers of reference indicate like parts.

Secured by bolts 1 to the basepanel 2, preferably of slate, is a metal bracket 8, which extends outward from and at right angles to the base-and is then turned up ward parallel to said base. Said bracket is formed of two similar members integrally united by cross plates atst and 5, and by a bar at 6, the bolts 1 being received in the cross plate 4.- Pivotedat 7 on the outer sides of the bracket is a forked switch lever 8, to the solid up er portion of which is secured by the bolt 9, the contact piece 10 which, when the lever 8 is swung inwardly on its pivot, makes contact at its ends with the metal blocks 11, 12secured on the panel 2. The fastening bolt 13 of block 11 extends through the panel and is threaded and provided with nutsto-form a binding post for the metal terminal 14 of one of the circuit conductors'leading'to said switch. The

block 12 is connected to the coil 15 of an olectro-magnet, the core of which has its ole ieces 20,21 in the forrnof quadranguar p ates, the pole piece 20 being secured to the panel 2. The other end of coil 15 is attached to ametal rod 1.7 secured to the panel by a bolt 18 which forms a binding post f\ r the terminal 19 of the other circuit conductor leading to theswitch. To the lower edge of pole piece 20 is pivoted the end of the swinging armature 23. From the lower edge of pole piece 21, a threaded rod 24 extends downwardly through a notch in the end of armature 23, and below s'aid armature carries nuts which form a stop limiting the drop of said armature. adjusting said nuts on rod 24, the end of the -armature can be normally placed as near to the lower edge of pole piece 21 as may bedesired.

Pivoted at- 26 to the switch lever 8 is abifurcated bent operating lever 27, terminating in a handle 28. The upwardly extending portion of the bracket 3 comes between the arms of lever 27, and at the bend in said lever and between said arms is pivoted a roller 29. Also between said arms is a pin to which is secured one end of a helical spring 30, the other end of said spring being secured to a similar pin between the arms of switch lever 8.

The inner surface 31 of the upwardly project-ing port-ion of bracket 3 forms a straight edge guide for the roller 29. The upper surface of bracket bar 5 forms a support for the roller 29, and hence for the switch lever 8 when said lever is in the position shown in Fig. 1 to open circuit. \Vhen the handle 28 is lifted, the roller 29 takes a bearing upon the straight edge 31, and the operating lever 27 being then constrained to move in a straight line, produces a powerful thrust upon the lever 8, so forcing the contact piece 10 against the blocks 11 and 12, so closing circuit between the conductors connected to binding posts 13 and 18. When this is done, the roller 29 finally bears u )OII the cross bar 6 of bracket 3. In order urthe-r to support the lever 8 in position, a bar 33 extending between the arms of lever v27 comes under a shoulder 34 formed on the switch lever 8. Upward movement of arm 27 is resisted by the retracting spring 30. Hence it is necessary to provide a means for supporting said arm in its elevated position. The bent latch 35 pivoted between the sides of bracket 3 forms such'a means. The upper )ortion of said latch is inclined inward y, and the upper edge is straight, so

By suitably means of the nuts 25'to stand normally at such a distance from the pole piece 21 as that the field created by a given current passing through magnet coil 15 will not be sufiicient to lift said armature. When the current, however, increases to some predetermined extent, the magnet attracts said armature, and thus brings an arm 36 projecting from the s'ide.thereof against the lower arm of the latch 35, raising said latch arm, and so removing the support from be-- neath the roller 29. The retractin' spring 30 is then free to operate, drawing own the lever 27, swinging the lever 8 outward and breaking circuit at the blocks 11 and 12.

.At- 37 and 38 are shown the usual carbon breaks common in devices of this class, for inserting high resistance on the break of current, consisting of carbon blocks supported by spring arms 39 and 40, which are respectively attached to block 11 and lever 8.

I claim:

1. The combination of a support, circuit contacts, a bracket projecting. from said support, a guide bar on said bracket, a'pi-voted switch lever closing circuit at said contacts, an arm pivoted to said lever and bearing on said guide bar, a retracting spring connected to said lever and said arm, means for-retaining said switch lever in circuit closing position, and meansfor releasing said retaining means. 7

2. The combination of a support, circuit contacts, a bracket projecting from said support, a guide bar on said bracket, a switch lever pivoted on said bracket and closing circuit at said contacts, an arm pivoted to said lever, a roller on said arm bearing on said guide bar, a retracting spring connected to said lever and said arm, a latch for retaining said switch lever in circuit closing position, and means for releasing said latch.

3. The combination of a support, circuit contacts, a bracket projecting from said support,a switchlever pivoted on said bracket and closing circuit at said contacts, a bent arm pivoted to said lever, a roller on said arm bearing on said bracket, a retracting spring connected to said lever andsaid arm, a latch pivoted on said bracket and engaging said roller when said arm isin position to cause said switch lever to close circuit, and means for releasing said latch.

4. Thecombination of a support, circuit contacts, a bracket on said support, a guide bar on said bracket, a pivoted switch lever closing circuit at said contacts, a'shoulderon said switch lever, an arm pivoted on said lever, a bar on'said arm engaging said shoulder, a roller on said arm bearing on said guide bar, a retracting spring connected to said lever and said arm, means for retaining said lever in circuit closing position, and means for releasing'said retaining means.

5. The combination of a support, circuit contacts, a bracket on said support, a guide bar on said bracket, a switch lever pivoted on said bracket and closing' circuit at said contacts, an arm pivoted to said lever, a roller o n'said arm bearing on said guide bar, 'a retracting spring connected to said lever and said arm, means for retaining said switch lever in circuit closing position, and means controlled by the circuit closed by said switch lever for releasing said retaining means. I

.6. The combination of a support, circuit contacts, a bracket on said support, a guide bar on said bracket, a switch lever pivoted on said bracket and closing circuit at said contacts, an arm pivoted to said lever, a roller on said arm bearing on said guide bar, a retracting spring connected to said lever and said arm, a latch for retaining said switchlever in circuit closing position, an electromagnetin the circuit closed by said switch lever, and a pivoted armature for said magnet, the said armature operating said latch to release the same when attracted by said magnet.

7. The combination of a support, circuit contacts, a bracket on said support, a guide bar on said bracket, a switch lever pivoted on said bracket and closing circuit at said contacts, an'arm pivoted to said lever, a roller on said arm bearing on said guide bar, a retracting spring connected to said lever and said arm, means for retainingsaid switch lever in circuit closing position, means controlled by the circuit closed by said switch lever for releasing said retaining means, and means for regulating the operation of said controlling means in accordance with a predetermined current strength on said circuit.

8. The combination of a support,'circuit contacts, a bracket on said support, a guide bar on said bracket, a switch lever pivoted on said bracketand closing circuit at said contacts, an arm pivoted to said lever,.a roller on said arm bearing on said guide bar, a retracting spring connected tosaid lever and said arm, alatch for .retaining said switch lever in circuit closing position, an electro-magnet inthe circuit closed'by said switch lever, and a pivoted armature for said magnet, the said armature'operatin said latch to release the same when attracted by said magnet, and means for adjusting the normal distance of said armature from the pole of saidmagnet.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.v

FRANK W. 7 SMITH.

MAY T. M GARRY. 

